ECHUNGA The Hills
In 1852, discovery of gold near Echunga saved South Australia from economic collapse during the Victorian rushes. The area remains the most productive goldfield in the state's history.
Jupiter Creek
The heart of the Echunga field. Home to numerous shallow alluvial workings and reef mines.
Permit Cost
Only $5.00 for a 12-month permit. The cheapest gold access in Australia.
Coarse Gold
Echunga is known for small, high-purity nuggets and wire-gold specimens.
Field Tips
Chapel Hill Shafts
Focus on the areas surrounding the historic Chapel Hill shafts. Many of the old-timers missed fine gold in the wash dirt. Modern high-frequency VLFs can pull small bits out of the old tailings piles.
Bedrock Sniping
In the wet winter months, the creeks in the Adelaide Hills run fast. Use crevicing tools to sweep the bedrock in the shallow sections of Jupiter Creek. Look for "traps" where the sedimentary rock layers act as natural riffles.
Permit Required
Fossicking in South Australia is governed by the Mining Act 1971. You MUST carry a current fossicking permit. It is illegal to fossick in National Parks or private land without the specific written consent of the owner.
Buy SA Permit OnlineWhat Your Gold Is Worth
Rough spot-price estimate of your find. Real payout depends on purity, weight, and who you sell to — but this gives you a ballpark before you head home.
This is a rough calculator — purity, refinery fees, and market spread all affect what you actually get. Check current spot prices before selling.
Gold Knowledge Resources
Optional gold-culture references for readers curious about bars, coins, purity and storage language after prospecting. These are third-party resources, not financial advice.
BullionVault
Third-party resource for learning how vaulted physical gold services describe storage, fees and custody.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.BullionStar
Useful for comparing bars, coins, premiums and purity language after learning field testing basics.
Affiliate link. Paystreak may earn a commission; check the provider’s terms.APMEX
Browse mainstream bullion product formats and premiums as gold-culture background, not prospecting advice.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.JM Bullion
Reference catalogue for seeing common retail names, weights and purity markings used on coins and bars.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.The Digger's Code
- Backfill all holes before you leave.
- Pack out all your trash.
- Respect fence lines and gates.
Legal Disclaimer
Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026
Hills Detecting Kit
Our chosen detectors for the mineralized clays of the Adelaide Hills.